Transforming device for electric currents.



N0 806 749. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905 J. E. NOEGGBRATH. TRANSFOR MING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CUR-RENT APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1904.

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Witnessesj Inventor:

Jacob Ii. Noggpe *rcft h.

No. 806,749. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. J. E. NOEGGERATH.

TRANSPORMING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZB, 1904.

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No. 806,749. PATENTED DEC. 5, 1905. J. E. NOEGGEEATH.

TEANSFORMING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC OURRENTS.

. UNITED STATES JACOB E. NOEGGERATH, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. TRANSFORMING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1905.

' Application filed May 26, 1904. Serial No. 209,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAooB E. N OEGGERATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Transforming Devices for Electric Currents, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the transformation of the characteristics of electric currents; and its object is to provide a novel form of transforming apparatus by means of which the voltage in an electric circuit, either direct or alternating, may be transformed up or down or alternating current changed to direct or direct to alternating with or without transformation of voltage.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 shows an end elevation of atransformer arranged in accordance with my invcntion. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the same in cross-section on the median line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a detail view of the tubes employed for containing the active material of the transformer. Fig. 4 shows a detail view of a modification in which solids are employed for the active substance. Fig. 5 shows an arrangement for transformation from direct to alternating current, or vice versa. Fig. 6 shows a modified arrangement of the transformer. Figs. 7 and 8 show a modification by means of which a transformation of voltage is obtained, and Fig. 9v shows another arrangement for obtaining ditferent voltages. I

In Fig. 1, A represents a magnet carrying and energized by the field-coil B, so as to produce a simple bipolar field. C is the armature or return magnetic circuit for the magnot A. Both field-magnet A and armature C are stationary, field-magnet A being supported by the non-magnetic bars D D. In the airgap between magnet A and armature O are placed a plurality of tubes E E, which are formed of insulating material and each of which contains a pair of electrodesee, as shown in dotted lines in 1 and in cross-section in the detail view in Fig. 3. By means of the electrodes (2 e the several tubes are connected in series or in parallel or in series-parallel combinations, as desired,and leads are brought out from the upper electrodes to the terminals ff at the top of the machine and from the lower electrodes to the terminals f f at the bottom of the machine. The tubes E E are filled with any suitable kind of conducting fluid adapted to circulate freely around the tubes. The operation is then as follows: If

;a potential be impressed upon the upper terminals f f, for instance, a current will flow through the tubes at right angles to the field in the air-gap. A movement of the conducting fluid will consequently be set up at right angles to the field and to the direction of ourrentfiowthat is, in a circumferential or axial direction in the tubes. A circulation of the fluid around the tubes is thus produced, and the conducting fluidcutting the flux produced by the lower pole of fleld-magnetA will have an electromotive force induced therein, and by means of the lower set of electrodes 0 e a current can be led off from the terminalsf f".

It has been said that a conducting fluid is contained in the tubes E. Instead of a true fluid any other suitable conducting substance adapted to move freely through the tubes may be employed. The conducting substance may be'either solid, liquid, vapor, or gas.

It is essential for the proper operation of the transformer that the resistance of the fluid in a circumferential direction should be great compared with the resistance across the tube. The great length of the tube relative to its diameter assists in securing this end.- It is perfectly practicable, however, to so arrange the substance in the tube that it shall act as an insulator in a circumferential or axial direction while presenting a low resistance in a transverse direction. interspersed conducting and insulating balls may be employed. Such an arrangement is shown in detail in Fig. 4, in which small conducting-balls J are separated by insulating blocks I, adapted to slide freely iii the tube. Similarly in the case of liquids, if small tubes are used, drops of conducting liquid, such as mercury, may be interspersed with insulating liquid, such as water, or solid insulating substances may be used to separate conducting portions of liquid. When gases are employed, similar insulating means may be used. Certain gases or vapors-such, for instance, as mercury vapor-possess the characteristic of becoming polarized in the direction of the Thus if solids are used current-flow, thereby automatically producing a low resistance diametrical with respect to the tube while presenting a high resistance to circumferential current-flow.

It will be seen that by different series-parlowerset is connected with two groups in.

parallel. This arrangement gives a two-toone ratio.

Although I have shown a simple bipolar field, it is evident that any other form of magnetic field may employed. Multipolar, bipolar, or-homopolar field structures may be used, and the same field may be used for both sets of electrodes or totally independent fields may be employed. Furthermore, the fields need not be of the same character-one field may be alternating and the other direct. By this means the transformer may be used to convert alternating into direct current, or vice versa. For instance, if it is desired to convert alternating current into direct current alternating current may be sent through one set of electrodes either by conduction or induction and these electrodes subjected to an alternating field. A unidirectional movement of the fluid results, which may be utilized to produce a direct current by subjecting a second set of electrodes to a constant or unidirectional field. Thus I have shown in Fig. 5 a transformer adapted to transform direct current into alternating, or vice versa. The core C is arranged in multipolar form carrying two sets of coils, one set 9 g being supplied from a source of direct current G and the other set h It being supplied from a source of alternating current H. The central portion A in this arrangement acts simply to complete the magnetic circuits. By means of two sets of electrodes 0 and e, placed, respectively, opposite the two sets of field-coils, a direct current may be transformed into an alternating, or vice versa. Thus when direct is sent in through terminals f, connected to the electrodes (2, an alternating current may be taken from the terminals of electrodes f, connected to the electrodes e. The ratio of voltages may be made anything that is desired. Consequently the machine may be used to transform either direct or alternating current to current of the same kind, but of a different voltage, or to current of the opposite kind with the same or with different voltage, as desired, or to transform the frequency of an alternating current with or with-- out change of voltage.

I have shown the tubes as circular in form. It will be understood, however, that any other form of closed tubesuch, for instance, as a spiral having a number of turnsmay be employed. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 6, the tube E being formed in a spiral surrounding the central core A. The two ends of the spiral are connected by a tube E,

extending through the center of the core A. Moreover, it is not essential that the tube should be closed on itself, although for practical use the closed form is much more advantageous. Thus the tube E in Fig. 6 might be omitted, one end of the spiral being connected to a suitable source offluid and the other end to a suitable receptacle.

Theoretically the transformation can be obtained by a circular tube having different cross-sections at the two sets of electrodes, the difference in speed producing the voltage transformation. Such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. A field structure K of the homopolar type isshown provided with an exciting-coil 1:. Tube E is made with a larger cross section in one place than in another. The electrodes 6 are placed at the narrow portion of the tube and the electrode a at the broad portion. Since the rate of flow past the electrode 0' would be greater than that past the electrode a, the electrodes 0 would have a greater difference of potential between them than the electrodes 6. Practically, however, this arrangement presents difliculties in the way of properly maintaining a high resistance in an axial direction of the tube. A

voltage transformation may be obtained with a single tube by subjecting the two sets of electrodes to fields of different strengths. Thus where independent fields are used, as in the arrangement of Fig. 5, any desired voltage transformation may be obtained.

It'will be seen that in addition to the simple transformations heretofore mentioned the machine may be made to give any desired number of voltages by bringing out the necessary leads from the tubes. Th us I have have shown in Fig. 9 an arrangement of tubes with a number of leads brought out, so as to render it possible to obtain a number of voltages by varying the connections of the leads.

Many modifications may be made in the construction of the machine in addition to the changes in the magnetic circuit heretofore mentioned. It is not essential that the tubes themselves should be composed of insulating material. It is sufiicient if they are lined with insulating material for portions of theirlength. Furthermore, by the term tube in the appended claims I desire to cover any body adapted to contain a freely-moving substance. Furthermore, I aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications in the construction and for collecting the current induced in another portion by the motion of said substance there- 2. In a transforming device for electric currents, a tube, a conducting substance adapted to move freely in said tube, means for subjecting two or more portions of said tube to magnetic fields directed at an angle to the axis of the tube, means for conducting a current through one of said portions in a direction at an angle to said field and to the axis of the tube, and means for collecting the current in another of said portions by the movement of said substance therein.

3. In a transforming device for electric currents, a tube, a conducting substance adapted to move freely therein, means for applying electric energy to a portion of said tube to produce movement of the substance, and means for utilizing saidmovement in another portion of said tube for producing electric energy.

4. In atransforming device for electric currents, a plurality of tubes, a conducting substance adapted to move freely in said tubes, means for supplying electric energy to a portion of each tube to produce 'a movement of the susbtance therein, means for utilizing said movement in another portion of each tube for producing electric energy, and means for electrically connecting the substance in similar portions of the several tubes.

direction at an angle to said field and to the axes of said tubes, means for subjecting another portion of said tubes to a second magnetic field, means for collecting the current induced in each tube by the movement of the substance through the second field, and means for electrically connecting the portions of the several 'tubes subjected to said second field.

6. In a transforming device for electric currents, a tube, a conducting substance adapted to move freely thereinhaving a low resistance in a transverse direction and a high resistance in an axial direction, means for passingacurrent transversely through a portion of said tube, means for subjecting said portion to a transverse magnetic field at an angle to the direction of said current, means for subjecting another portion of said tube to a second transverse field, and means for collecting the currentdne to movement of said substance through the second field.

7. In atransforming device for electric currents, a tube, a conducting substance adapted to move freely therein having a low resistance in a transverse direction and a high re- JACOB E. NOEGGERATH.

Witnesses: EDWARD WILLIAMS, J r.,-

HELEN ORFORD. 

